<aside> 💡 SWBAT balance chemical equations so that they obey the law of conservation of mass/matter

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Vocab

Synthesis

Decomposition

Combustion

Single replacement

Double replacement

Notes

• Law of Conservation of Mass: Mass/Matter cannot be created or destroyed, only changed or rearranged)
  • The law demands that the number of atoms on the reactant side must be equal to the number of atoms on the product side
• When balancing equations, we may only change the coefficient
• Coefficients can only be whole numbers

Coefficients

Definition

Numbers in front of a compound; tells you how many compounds there are

Recall

What must you do?

Where are they written? What do they look like? What do you put?

Notes

• You must multiply every atom in a chemical formula by the coefficient
• They are numbers written in front of a reactant or product
  • Tell how many atoms, molecules, and/or ions are being used or made
  • Always whole numbers (never 1.5)
  • Always lowest common ratio (if you divide every number, do it!)
• Note: If the coefficient is 1, you do not have to write it

Balancing Chemical Equations

Goal/The Point

Change coefficients to make sure there are the same number of each atom in both sides of the equation

Ex: 2Mg + 1O2 → 2MgO

<aside> 📌 SUMMARY: Use coefficients to make sure there are the same number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation; Coefficients must be whole numbers; Use the lowest common ratio of coefficients

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Date: February 25, 2021

Topic: Balancing Equations